- Organizations
- Blogs
Common Sense Advisory’s blog. Commentary on trends and tools in the globalization industry.
Lexiophiles
For all those word-lovers out there: a compilation of the best language-related blogs on the web.
Blogos
Multilingual’s blog. News and views on all aspects of language, translation and technology.
Translate My Word
Localization Best Practices. A blog for those involved in global marketing.
Microsoft Translator Official Team Blog
News and views from the Microsoft translator team in Microsoft Research.
Global by Design
A Microsoft employee blogs about web globalization.
Planet Web
A blog hosted by W3C, which compiles posts from a variety of blogs on web internationalization software.
i18n Blog
A software internationalization blog with a focus on Romanian translation.
Ilya Butenko - Localization Blog
A program manager blogs about trends in localization.
About Translation
An Italian translator talking about his experience in the language industry.
ImTranslator
Smart Link Corporation’s blog on various translating software.
Localization, Localisation
Practical and concise answers to common questions in G11N, I18N and L10N
Terminology, Computing and Translation
A blog for translation agencies, translators and language professionals.
Translation Journal
A Publication for translators by translators about translators and translation
Translator's Shack
A collection of news, reviews, links and opinions on translation technology.
- Others
A collection of the translations of miscellaneous software projects, with an eye on improving consistency among open source software developers.
Translation Glossary and References
A collection of previously-released glossary files on mozilla.org. A reference for improving the level of consistency between different translation projects.
Translator's Tools
A useful compilation of translation tools.
Internazionalization Downloads
A collection of tools and resources for localization projects on Mac: varying from software like AppleGlot and ADViewer, to a collection of Mac glossaries.
Proz.com
Reputedly the largest online community of translators, complete with networking resources and discussions on translation issues and technologies
DGT Multilingual Translation Memory
A translation memory database released by the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) of the European Commission. It is a complete collection of all of the European Union’s legislation, with parallel texts in 22 languages and 231 different language pairs.
I18NGuy
Information about cultural differences, internationalization (i18n), localization (l10n), globalization (g11n), translation and software engineering.
OpenTag
This site is dedicated to the tools and technologies used in the localization of software, on-line help and documentation.
i18nGurus
Open directory of links to internationalization (i18n) resources and related material.
Publications
A collection of publications on localization,
internationalization and globalization. This is a work in progress, so
if there are any publications you’d like to see on the list, please let us know.
- Magazines
A magazine that puts the spotlight on solutions for clients in the globalization, internationalization, and localization industries.
MultiLingual
MultiLingual Computing (co-producers of Localization World) brings you its eponymous masterpiece: a magazine with a focus on technological innovations in the internationalization industry. Each issue (published in both print and digital formats eight times a year) comes loaded with information on language technology, industry commentary, business tips and other interesting language-oriented highlights.
- Books
This book can serve as a comprehensive guide for those just getting started in localization, and also as a handy reference tool for old-timers in the industry. Esselink’s book delves into all the key roles involved in the localization process, including information for translators, engineers, and project managers. A large part of its focus is on localizing software under Windows, however it does touch briefly on other operating systems.
Internationalization and Localization Using Microsoft .Net by Nick Symmonds
This book is a guideline for developers and IT managers on how to internationalize their software using Microsoft’s .NET platform. It is a comparatively readable book in a notoriously unreadable genre, but more of a general introduction than a detailed technical treatise.
Developing International Software by Dr International
This book/CD-ROM explains how to localize applications for Windows XP and 2000, determine important culture-specific issues, avoid international pitfalls and legal issues, and use the best technologies and coding practices.
XML Internationalization and Localization by Yves Savourel
This book addresses the ways in which XML can help document producers to overcome the obstacles inherent in internationalizing (and then localizing) their content. It is complete with a section that details and compares a wide array of different translation tools and techniques.
International User Interfaces by Jakob Nielsen and Elisa M. Del Galdo
This book is composed of a series of articles on internationalizing user-interface design. It is compiled to confront the problems UI developers face in rendering their products more accessible to a global audience.
Business Without Borders by Donald A. de Palma
This book is a highly-lauded treatment of how and why companies ought to go global, touching on every aspect of the globalization process. It is a comprehensive guide full of strategy and insight for overcoming the challenges e-businesses will invariably meet in launching their international marketing campaigns.
CJKV Information Processing by Ken Lunde
This book is a thorough introduction and exhaustive reference for those interested in either developing or localizing software that supports East Asian character sets (namely Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese). The author not only helps to familiarize his audience with significant historical information regarding these writing systems (including methods of input and output at the onset of the computer age), he also delves deeply into modern encoding and programming methods, complete with page after page of handy character tables and example source code—available in Java, C, and Perl.
Read Me First! A Style Guide for the Computer Industry by Sun Technical Publications
This book helps acquaint its readers with professional practices relating to all aspects of creating technical documentation. Its advice ranges from how to create grammatically and stylistically appropriate writing guides, to graphical user interface techniques, and then on to advice dealing with glossary and index creation, the use of hyperlinks, as well as the clarification of often-misused terminology.
Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications by Microsoft Corporation
This book is widely recognized as a must-have for anyone in the technical publication field. In addition to assisting its readers in developing industry-standard writing style guides for their companies or organizations, Microsoft’s manual also helps to standardize nettlesome issues regarding technical- and computer-related terminology—making for clean, consistent publications and user interfaces that, in turn, can be more painlessly internationalized at a later date.
Java™ Look and Feel Design Guidelines by Sun Microsystems Inc.
This book is a style guide aimed at teaching its readers how to design more professional, clean, and intuitive graphical user interfaces for Java applications. It does not explore the coding aspect of programming applications, but rather is a manual for helping designers to create more useful and aesthetically pleasing interfaces, dealing specifically with topics like utility windows, menus, dialogs, buttons, and many other components that affect the usability of Java programs.
Computer-Aided Translation Technology: A Practical Introduction by Lynne Bowker
This book focuses on introducing the medley of CAT tools and technologies that translation professionals are likely to encounter in the course of their work. It delves into the ways in which translators might interact with and benefit from the different computer-aided translation tools available, and how said tools might affect and improve the translator’s workflow. While not promoting any specific approach to translation, Bowker’s book is an attempt at familiarizing its readers with what technologies are out there and how they can help you.
Computers and Translation: A Translator’s Guide by H.L. Somers (editor)
This book is composed of a collection of articles on translation technology: touching on machine translation, computer-aided translation, and translation memory, complete with some historical sketches and notes on the future trends thereof. This collection is aimed at delineating the limitations of technology’s role in translation, and thereby clarifying how computers can be used to help, not replace, the translator.
Machine Translation: Its Scope and Limits by Yorick Wilks
This book is a discourse on the history of machine translation and its development—spread across forty years and three continents—into contemporary models. In this volume, Yorick Wilks, the Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Sheffield (not to mention a stock of other scholarly appellations), discusses the many conflicting approaches to MT technology over the years, and rounds things off with suppositions regarding the roles that new models in A.I. and other fields will play in the future of machine translation technology.
Translation and Globalization by Michael Cronin
This book is a critical examination of the role and function of translation in the context of an ever-globalizing world. Michael Cronin seeks to investigate the effects that changes in global economic and social infrastructures have had on translation and, by extension, translators themselves. With a primary focus on non-literary translation as a uniquely-positioned lens through which we can examine globalization and what it means for the future of people and their respective cultures, Cronin’s book aims to impress on readers the importance of translation not only as a useful product, but as an illuminating process.
The Global English Style Guide by John R. Kohl
This book is a style guide for instructing writers in all disciplines how to produce English documents that are better suited to translation (both machine and human), and that are more catered toward facilitating reading-comprehension among non-native speakers of English. The author delves into problems relating to style, syntax and terminology, and offers concrete examples that will help writers to gain control over more explicit, simple, consistent, and translatable English.
Technical Translation: Usability Strategies for Translating Technical Documentation by Jody Byrne
This book is an introduction to technical translation and the usability of technical documents. Going beyond mere concerns with terminology, Jody Burn addresses the process of managing document usability and translation from the perspective of cognitive psychology and technical communication, aiming to help readers develop skills more suited to the creation of usable (and thus marketable) documents in a field more demanding and extensive than ever.
Software
A selection of translating tools ranging from machine
translation (MT), to computer-aided translation (CAT) and terminology
management software (TMS). As always, this is a growing compendium. If
there are any tools that ought to be added, please let us know.
A translation platform that incorporates
multiple-format translation memory and TMS tools into a workflow
management system. This allows service providers and their customers to
interact more intimately throughout the entire “linguistic supply
chain.”
An assortment of machine translation systems
developed by CIMOS, dealing primarily with bi-directional
Arabic-to-English, Arabic-to-French, and English-to-French projects.
Their software comes with specialized subject dictionaries, and can be
used as a stand-alone product, as a web-based server, or can be embedded
within your application of choice.
A visual localization support tool developed
by Alchemy Software. This software environment integrates all phases of
the localization workflow—from project management to translation, as
well as engineering and testing—into an easy-to-use visual system that
allows users to focus more on the quality of their work, free from the
distractions of its underlying technology.
A translator workstation developed by ATRIL.
Déjà Vu combines translation memory with a terminology management
system. This CAT has the ability to perform example-based machine
translation (EBMT), which helps to increase productivity and consistency
for both corporate and freelance translators alike.
A machine translation system combined with
customizable a translation memory system. This multilingual software
supports bi-directional translations between all official languages of
the European Union.
An open source CAT environment released by
Lionbridge. Their technology combines a translation memory system with
terminology management tools—as well as a project assistant—allowing
users to streamline the translation process. Their software is
TMX-compliant, and features fuzzy match applications.
A CAT tool designed to be compatible with a
wide array of other localization products, and developed completely
around open standards of language technology (TMX, SRX, TBX, UTF-8,
etc.). Its integrated interface allows translation memory and
terminology management to be handled within the same application, a
process facilitated by configurable software functions and hot-keys.
Developed by Terminotix, Logiterm
Professional is primarily a terminology and parallel text search engine,
but also includes different tools for generating dictionaries, creating
glossaries and aligning documents.
A translation memory system developed by
AppTek. Their product offers automated document alignment combined with a
translation memory database that supports multiple language pairs.
Complete with a document management application in which users can
directly manage their source documents.
A CAT system that runs in Microsoft Word.
They offer translation memory and terminology management systems with
full Unicode support in an already-familiar interface—users won’t have
to become acquainted with a new software environment, as all of its
functions can be accessed right there in Word.
A software localization support tool.
Multilizer’s product offers a visual editing interface combined with a
translation memory system for companies looking to localize their PC,
internet and mobile software. Its features are designed to streamline
the translation process in an expansive array of file formats.
A translator workstation developed by
MultiCorpora. Their software provides translators with a document
alignment application, along with translation memory and terminology
management systems. Translators can manage their workflow with
MultiTrans’ analysis agent, as well as access others’ translation memory
databases online.
An open source computer-assisted translation
tool developed by Didier Briel and team. OmegaT is a translation
workstation, fully equipped with a translation memory system, project
support, a bitext aligner/converter, as well as a TMX validator,
paragraph segmentation capabilities and many other tools to assist
language professionals in their translations.
A machine translation system developed by
SyNTHEMA. Their MT system is combined with translation memory technology
to offer the complete and automated translation of documents. Their
software is compatible with most industry-standard desktop publishing
and CAT environments.
A translation workstation developed by
BridgeTerm. ProMemoria is a combination of translation memory,
terminology management, and dictionary creation tools that integrate
with Microsoft Word. It can also handle machine translation based on
users’ own custom-made subject dictionaries.
A translator workstation developed by SDL
International. Provides all the features users need to optimize their
translation workflow: terminology management, translation memory, and
project management, all complete with help wizards to assist users along
the way. SDL’s software also includes an automated quality assurance
feature to help translators keep their translations clean, professional
and consistent.
A translation memory system developed by
Lingua et Machina. Similis can either run in Word or as a standalone
translation environment. It helps users to reuse already-translated
words and segments, while automatically updating their TM databases.
This software can also automatically align documents and extract new
terminology in the process.
A translation memory system developed by the
Institute for Language and Speech Processing. Tr-AID is embedded in
Microsoft Word for user convenience, and comes with customizable
terminology management features.
A machine translation system developed by
OTEK. They offer both bi-directional English/Chinese and
Japanese/Chinese MT systems. Transwhiz 10 can translate in batches or
integrate with Microsoft Word as a translation memory system, as well as
automatically translate RSS news feeds and instant messages.
A translation workstation and terminology
manager developed by Xplanation. Tstream can be used on all platforms
and has the ability to integrate with a web-based project management
system. Its translation environment works independently of all word
processors, so there’s no need to learn new interfaces, spend money on
new software nor waste time on continuously updating it.
A localization support tool developed by AIT.
Visual Localize is a CAT system designed primarily for localizing
software and graphical user interface. As a completely visual aid that
incorporates translation memory technology, it allows translators to
view their work in context.
A translation memory system that works on all
platforms (Mac, Windows, and Linux). Wordfast Pro is a standalone
program that provides a customizable translating environment, while also
assisting users in broadening their TM databases.
A translation workstation developed by
Kilgray. MemoQ is a fully-integrated CAT environment—with a wide range
of file format support—that provides users with a customizable visual
workspace, as well as access to a variety of remote translation memories
and term bases. Some of its more distinguished features include a
sophisticated alignment function, and the ability to perform group
translations, where different members of a team can translate and
proofread the same document simultaneously.
A tool for localizing software, predominantly
MFC, .NET, WPF, Delphi and Java-based applications. Lingobit Localizer
utilizes translation memory technology in combination with a visual user
interface in order to assist users in focusing on their translations
without the hassle of dealing with source-code. It also includes tools
for quality assurance and project management.
An environment for localizing graphical user
interfaces in conjunction with Win32, Microsoft .NET, Java and XML
software. RC-WinTrans offers built-in support for Trados’ translation
memory system and comes equipped with context viewers to assist users in
the software localization process.
A web-based CAT tool developed by Idiom
Technologies. WorldServer provides translators and end-clients alike
with a centralized platform to streamline the localization process.
Complete with a system of centralizing and ensuring consistency among
translation memory and terminology databases.
A software localization tool developed by SDL
International. Passolo 2009 comes equipped with an array of features to
save its users time, including a completely customizable working
environment, the ability to revert to previous versions of a workflow,
and an improved glossary search.
A free translation memory system that
integrates with Microsoft Word. WordFisher is similar to commercial TM
environments in that it provides users with the ability to align and
synchronize their documents, customize glossaries, expand upon their TM
databases and check for translation consistency.
A tool for localizing Flash files, developed
by Avral. Tramigo assists users by extracting translatable text from SWF
files, protecting content that doesn’t need to be translated, and by
generating a newly-translated version of the original SWF file after the
translator has done his work.
An open source CAT tool. Anaphraseus allows
users to create and modify translation memories. Its main features
include text segmentation, terminology management, fuzzy match TM
search, and TMX import/export capabilities.
A translation memory system developed by AIT.
AnyMem’s CAT engine is loaded with features: TM database and
terminology management systems, selective search and translate
functions, integration with Microsoft Word, a configurable interface
display, and Unicode support.
A terminology reference tool developed by
ApSIC. This is an internal software solution that ApSIC is offering to
the public for download. Xbench helps translators to customize the
display of their bilingual information, with support in a variety of
different CAT formats. It also comes equipped with features to aid
translators with quality assurance, ensuring clean and consistent work.
A terminology extraction engine developed by
BridgeTerm. SynchroTerm enables users to extract terms from parallel
texts and other translation memories. It automates the extraction
process and allows users to build, enlarge and edit their terminology
databases.
A terminology management tool developed by
acrolinx. IQ seeks to minimize linguistic variation and maximize content
reuse by providing users with a host of quality assurance features that
introduce consistency in spelling, grammar and style into the
translator’s workflow.
A tool for aligning documents developed by
Terminotix. AlignFactory automates the document alignment process and
seeks to outperform the capabilities of the built-in alignment functions
found in many commercial CAT workstations.
A localization tool for Mac software,
developed by Florent Pillet. Powerglot extracts translatable text for
its users and provides them with a TM system to aid in the translation
process. After users are finished translating, PowerGlot will
automatically reconstruct the now-localized application.
A tool for localizing Mac applications,
developed by Arizona Software. iLocalize comes with a variety of
features to help users localize their Mac applications. Its TM-glossary
can treat multiple languages within the same project, while checking
consistency and applying smart filters to the source code—making sure
that users can find and translate what needs to be translated.
A CAT tool for localizing documents,
developed by MadCap Software. MadCap Lingo allows users to import
translatable material in a broad range of file formats, where they can
view source and target texts side-by-side in a visually-oriented
translation environment. It comes equipped with a translation memory
system and tools for creating and editing TM databases, as well as
functions that help translators create statistical reports about their
various projects.
A simple and intuitive CAT tool, developed by
Total Recall Software. Snowball integrates with Microsoft Word,
automatically analyzing and updating translation memory databases in the
background while translators do their work. In the Pro and Freelance
versions, Snowball supports TMX import and export, and provides access
to multiple databases.
One of the first CAT tools on the market,
developed by the STAR Group. Transit supports a wide range of languages
and file formats, combining translation and terminology management
functions with project management and quality assurance utilities.
A web-based translation management system
developed by XML-INTL. XML Suite can be used as a standalone TMS, or can
be split into separate working modules that can be integrated into
existing systems. Its different applications help users to manage all
aspects of the localization process, from workflow management, to
quality assurance and terminology management. XML Suite is scalable and
customizable according to its users’ needs.
An open source initiative sponsored by
WeLocalize. GlobalSight is a highly customizable translation management
system that supports collaborative editing and management models through
its own imbedded crowdsourcing application, CrowdSight.
A completely web-based CAT tool developed by
Wordbee S.A. Wordbee Translator is based on a collaborative model in
which translators can work on the same project, remotely and at the same
time—all of which can be tracked by its real-time tracking system. This
CAT tool can process most common file formats, including Microsoft
Word, Excel and Powerpoint (including graphics), Adobe InDesign,
OpenOffice documents, RTF, XML, and HTML. It can be subscribed to for a
monthly fee.
A free web-based CAT tool developed by
Google. Google’s Translator Toolkit supports most common file formats,
like html, txt, doc, and rtf, etc. With Google’s application, TM import
and export is performed in TMX format, whereas glossaries are exported
in Google’s custom CSV format. Professional translators and other users
are encouraged to take a careful look at Google’s Terms of Service before availing themselves of this technology. Source: http://www.l10nworks.com